Neuroscience
Gamma Knife® PerfexionTM is the latest form of radiation therapy that damages cancer cells and tumors, and prevents them from multiplying. It does not involve surgery, but rather precise beams of radiation delivered to the tumor.
The first Gamma Knife unit was developed in 1968 and primarily used for the treatment of intractable pain and movement disorders. Gamma Knife technology has evolved over the past 40 years—today, the Penn Gamma Knife Center provides treatment for a variety of neurological disorders, including:
• Brain metastasis
• Acoustic neuroma / vestibular schwannoma
• Meningioma
• Pituitary adenoma
• Glioma / astrocytoma
• Chordoma
• Craniopharyngioma
• Hemangioblastoma
• Arteriovenous malformations (AVM)
• Arteriovenous fistulas (AVF)
• Cavernous malformations
• Trigeminal neuralgia / tic douloureux
• Epilepsy
• Tremor
• Other disorders
“Gamma Knife was developed specifically for the brain and is used exclusively for the treatment of neurological conditions - whereas other radiation options including CyberKnife® treat conditions throughout the entire body,” states John Y.K. Lee, MD, medical director of the Penn Gamma Knife Center and assistant professor of neurosurgery.
The Gamma Knife® PerfexionTM unit from Elekta Instrument, a Swedish medical device manufacturer, is completely redesigned and represents the fifth generation of gamma knife stereotactic radiosurgery technology. Perfexion uses 192 sources of radiation to precisely target tumors, lesions and other intracranial structures. Compared with earlier Gamma Knife versions, Perfexion offers an expanded reach for treatment of metastasis anywhere in the brain and can also treat multiple locations in a single session.
Each year, Penn Neurosurgery treats as many as 300 patients in the Penn Gamma Knife Center—the most of any hospital in the Philadelphia region. The Center collaborates with the Penn Brain Tumor Center and Penn’s Abramson Cancer Center offering patients a comprehensive range of services and care options.
Learn more about Gamma Knife services at Penn, request a consultation or refer a patient.
Penn Medicine offers the Philadelphia region's most comprehensive treatment options for benign and malignant tumors originating in the brain, as well as metastatic cancer including:
• Gamma Knife® Perfexion™
• Proton therapy
• CyberKnife®
• Intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT)
- Question And Answer With Dr. Ozturk
Ali K. Ozturk, MD, is Assistant Professor in the Department of Neurosurgery and sees patients at Pennsylvania Hospital and Penn Medicine Woodbury Heights. He specializes in the treatment of complex spinal conditions including tumors, degenerative spine...
- Brain Tumor Symposium: Bridging Precision Science And Personalized Medicine
Penn Medicine’s Abramson Cancer Center and Brain Tumor Center are pleased to host the Penn Oncology Neurosurgery Symposium. Full program overviewWhen:Friday, June 6, 2014 Where:Smilow Center for Translational Research Perelman School of Medicine at...
- Pennsylvania Hospital Nurse Awarded For Nursing Excellence
From left to right: Steve Brem, MD, Denise Miller RN, and John Y.K. Lee, MDPenn Medicine awarded Pennsylvania Hospital’s Denise Miller RN, BSN, CNOR, the Rosalyn J. Watts Award for Nurse-Patient/Family Relationship. Miller, who is the coordinator for...
- John Y.k. Lee, Md, Receives Meningioma Mommas Grant Award
Meningiomas are the most common brain tumor in adults. However, they are often overlooked because they are considered a benign tumor. In many cases, meningiomas appear to be benign but are actually “atypical” and even malignant. These aggressive...
- Steven Brem, Md Receives American Brain Tumor Association Award
Steven Brem, MD, Professor of Neurosurgery, Chief of the Division of Neurosurgical Oncology and Co-Director of the Penn Brain Tumor Center, has received the first Joel A. Gingras, Jr. award given by the American Brain Tumor Association (ABTA). Dr. Brem...
Neuroscience
Gamma Knife® Perfexion
 |
| Image courtesy of Elekta |
Gamma Knife® PerfexionTM is the latest form of radiation therapy that damages cancer cells and tumors, and prevents them from multiplying. It does not involve surgery, but rather precise beams of radiation delivered to the tumor.
The first Gamma Knife unit was developed in 1968 and primarily used for the treatment of intractable pain and movement disorders. Gamma Knife technology has evolved over the past 40 years—today, the Penn Gamma Knife Center provides treatment for a variety of neurological disorders, including:
• Brain metastasis
• Acoustic neuroma / vestibular schwannoma
• Meningioma
• Pituitary adenoma
• Glioma / astrocytoma
• Chordoma
• Craniopharyngioma
• Hemangioblastoma
• Arteriovenous malformations (AVM)
• Arteriovenous fistulas (AVF)
• Cavernous malformations
• Trigeminal neuralgia / tic douloureux
• Epilepsy
• Tremor
• Other disorders
“Gamma Knife was developed specifically for the brain and is used exclusively for the treatment of neurological conditions - whereas other radiation options including CyberKnife® treat conditions throughout the entire body,” states John Y.K. Lee, MD, medical director of the Penn Gamma Knife Center and assistant professor of neurosurgery.
The Gamma Knife® PerfexionTM unit from Elekta Instrument, a Swedish medical device manufacturer, is completely redesigned and represents the fifth generation of gamma knife stereotactic radiosurgery technology. Perfexion uses 192 sources of radiation to precisely target tumors, lesions and other intracranial structures. Compared with earlier Gamma Knife versions, Perfexion offers an expanded reach for treatment of metastasis anywhere in the brain and can also treat multiple locations in a single session.
Each year, Penn Neurosurgery treats as many as 300 patients in the Penn Gamma Knife Center—the most of any hospital in the Philadelphia region. The Center collaborates with the Penn Brain Tumor Center and Penn’s Abramson Cancer Center offering patients a comprehensive range of services and care options.
Learn more about Gamma Knife services at Penn, request a consultation or refer a patient.
Penn Medicine offers the Philadelphia region's most comprehensive treatment options for benign and malignant tumors originating in the brain, as well as metastatic cancer including:
• Gamma Knife® Perfexion™
• Proton therapy
• CyberKnife®
• Intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT)
- Question And Answer With Dr. Ozturk
Ali K. Ozturk, MD, is Assistant Professor in the Department of Neurosurgery and sees patients at Pennsylvania Hospital and Penn Medicine Woodbury Heights. He specializes in the treatment of complex spinal conditions including tumors, degenerative spine...
- Brain Tumor Symposium: Bridging Precision Science And Personalized Medicine
Penn Medicine’s Abramson Cancer Center and Brain Tumor Center are pleased to host the Penn Oncology Neurosurgery Symposium. Full program overviewWhen:Friday, June 6, 2014 Where:Smilow Center for Translational Research Perelman School of Medicine at...
- Pennsylvania Hospital Nurse Awarded For Nursing Excellence
From left to right: Steve Brem, MD, Denise Miller RN, and John Y.K. Lee, MDPenn Medicine awarded Pennsylvania Hospital’s Denise Miller RN, BSN, CNOR, the Rosalyn J. Watts Award for Nurse-Patient/Family Relationship. Miller, who is the coordinator for...
- John Y.k. Lee, Md, Receives Meningioma Mommas Grant Award
Meningiomas are the most common brain tumor in adults. However, they are often overlooked because they are considered a benign tumor. In many cases, meningiomas appear to be benign but are actually “atypical” and even malignant. These aggressive...
- Steven Brem, Md Receives American Brain Tumor Association Award
Steven Brem, MD, Professor of Neurosurgery, Chief of the Division of Neurosurgical Oncology and Co-Director of the Penn Brain Tumor Center, has received the first Joel A. Gingras, Jr. award given by the American Brain Tumor Association (ABTA). Dr. Brem...